Internet outrage doesn’t last
The internet is like a baby that forgets what it was crying about
Talk to anyone born in the 80’s or 90’s, and they would agree that the internet has evolved to a behemoth much beyond what anyone could have predicted at the time. When it first came into being, the general understanding was that internet could only be accessed intermittently through a dial-up connection; that too at a time when phone lines would not be in use. Some of the most basic functions like research, writing, instant messaging could be performed easily, much to everyone’s former delight.
Cut to present— internet is not just ubiquitous but also a necessity. From work coordination to online shopping, we need the internet to do all this and more with the help of our smartphones. We would never have imagined that we would be able to transact, buy groceries, catch up with friends over the internet with the ease that is possible today.
While the benefits of the internet are plenty, it also comes with its own drawbacks. Since anyone and everyone has an account on social media, many also feel entitled to have an opinion. And because negative opinions get a stronger reaction, trolls end up trashing every new film, new songs, new actors and practically everything else that is open to a public reaction. It’s easier and more fun to criticise than to praise, right?
Access to a smartphone and internet connection is all that an average troll needs. Even a reason or motivation to troll is not necessary! Public outrage, woke culture, cancel culture has become the norm with negative hashtags topping trends on every social media platform.
Take for instance the recent case of the song ‘Kesariya’ from the film ‘Brahmastra: The Shiva Trilogy’. A romantic ballad, it features popular actress Alia Bhatt and her off-screen husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor. Fans did enjoy seeing the chemistry between the duo on the silver screen. However, the song did face some flak on social media for its silly lyrics and kiddish rhyme scheme, around mid-2022.
Cut to present — the singer of ‘Kesariya’, Arijit Singh, has received a National Award for playback singing from the President of India for this very creation that was brutally trolled two years ago. The song topped charts for an entire year, with no other recent song coming close the whereabouts of its popularity; in spite of what the trolls said would be ‘lyric suicide’. It has been remixed and constantly played back on DJ’s, and has also been abundantly used by couples to give romantic performances on their sangeet ceremonies. You would find millions of viral reels on Instagram using this song as the background score.
The internet should never, ever be an indicator of the success or failure of a work of art. Trolls and adverse reactions are but a blip in the trajectory of a film or song’s release. What matters is how successful it really is in the long run and the on-ground reality of its impact on people.
Do you agree that public outrage is not justified and does not serve a purpose in the long run? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below!
